Seventh inning a boost for Miles Mikolas

Right-hander Miles Mikolas worked seven innings Saturday, allowing only two runs on five hits in a tough-luck 2-0 loss. The performance was one of his best, but a 1-2-3 seventh inning is what provided him with a real lift.

Cleveland had scored its two runs with two outs in the sixth on consecutive singles by Lonnie Chisenhall and Nick Swisher in a 20-pitch inning. But Mikolas returned for the seventh at 87 pitches, and needed 13 pitches in the perfect inning.

“They asked how I felt, and I said I still felt strong,” Mikolas said. “I knew I had a few good bullets left in me. After an inning like [the sixth], you always want to end on a good one. I was able to get a quick 1-2-3 inning, keep our team in the game, and finish up strong.”

The Progressive Field radar gun showed Mikolas topping out at 96 mph, the most velocity he has shown in his six starts. He said the mechanical tweaks that helped him with his command also helped him find some extra juice on his fastball.

“That’s where I like to be,” Mikolas said. “A lot of things we’ve been working on in the bullpen — keeping my arm moving, keeping my weight in the same direction as home plate — definitely helps in that aspect, too.”